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There are two alternatives analyzed in this EA. Under the first, <br /> or "no action" alternative, Special Stipulation 30c would not be deleted <br /> from Lease C-27432. In effect, this would limit CWI to a production <br /> level' of 700,000 tons/year, The second alternative would delete Special <br /> Stipulation 30c. It is assumed that CWI would seek to produce at the <br /> 1.3 million tons/year level , since it does have contracts to supply that <br /> much coal . (The contracts were in effect prior to the new regulations <br /> of July 19, 1979. ) - <br /> SECTION TWO -= ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE <br /> Alternatives and Background Considered in Previous Environmental <br /> Assessments <br /> The'original Environmental Assessment Record for the Colorado <br /> Westmoreland, Inc. Coal Lease Sale and Associated Rights-of-Way (C-25079 <br /> and C-25150) analyzed impacts of the mine, associated facilities, rights- <br /> of-way, and a Short-Term Coal Lease. It was signed June 23, 1977, <br /> numbered CO-030-7-79. A production rate of 1.25 million tons per year <br /> was analyzed in that EAR. Colorado Westmoreland, Inc. (CWI) eventually <br /> secured a lease to be mined at a rate no greater than 700,000 tons per <br /> year.The Draft West-Central Colorado Coal Regional Environmental State- <br /> ment (DWCCCES) analyzed the impacts of CWP s Orchard Valley Mine in the <br /> context of-other proposed and existing coal production in West Central <br /> Colorado. The draft was released to the public on July 28, 1978. <br /> The Final West-Central Colorado Coal Regional Environmental State- <br /> ment (FWCCCES) summarized the status of CWI 's Orchard Valley Mine and <br /> other mines in the North Fork Valley. This ES also analyzes the impacts <br /> of coal development throughout West-Central Colorado. The final ES was <br /> released to the public on May 9, 1979. <br /> A Short-term Competitive Coal Lease Application TE/EAR was signed <br /> March 13, 1979; this action offered for lease 5.6 million tons of- re- <br /> coverable reserves of coal from the "D" seam on 854.03 acres in Delta <br /> County, Colorado, for underground mining. Colorado Westmoreland, Inc. <br /> (CWI ) was the successful bidder on this lease tract. Since the lease <br /> was offered under NRDC v. Hughes, production was limited to the existing <br /> rate at the time of application. <br /> The TE/EAR examined a number of alternatives to the proposed <br /> action. Of the alternatives examined by environmental analysis, the <br /> proposed action (to lease the cited tract as described) was chosen in <br /> the Decision Record/Rationale, 'signed by the State Director, Colorado, <br /> on May 8, 1979. <br /> 2 <br />